Under shadow of rockets and mortars, young women soldiers direct IDF warships to destroy enemy targets in Lebanon. Girls know it's scary, but important

Hagai Einav

In recent days, Israel's Navy has intensified its operations to eliminate the threat of rocket attacks on Nahariya, Haifa and the Krayot area. On Sunday, a Ynet crew had the unique opportunity to visit the naval operations room, where young women soldiers direct INF missile boats in their mission to destroy terrorist rocket launchers.

A group of female soldiers, who constitute 80 percent of the personnel in the outpost, have been laboring around the clock for 26 days, in an attempt to prevent a continuation of rocket attacks on the north-west.

Women at work, in an operations room (Photo: Hagai Aharon)

One of these ladies is Cpl. Moran Kdushim, 20, who has served for more than a year in the outpost as a shift leader.

"The first days werent easy," she says. "Managing such a complicated operation, while the outpost is under attack from rockets and mortars, is scary, but it's also toughening. The girls here have incredible responsibility on their shoulders and they consider it an honor to have the important job of communicating with the crews at sea."

Kdushim explains that the women's young age doesn't constitute a problem because they underwent extensive training and are now executing the things they have learned. 'Manning' one of the control systems, we met Sgt. Sivan Cohen from Nahariya. While on leave, she spent time with her family in their fortified structure. Back in the army, she sits in front of a control screen, in order to help stop the next barrage from being launched on her home.

In front of a control screen (Photo: Hagai Aharon)

"We've been here for almost three weeks straight It's like an unending school trip. We have a strong military and, alongside the strength demonstrated by residents of the north such as my parents, we are waging a difficult battle along the Lebanon coast," Sivan says.

After success, comes fulfillment

At approximately 12 p.m. the radars show a group of missile boats that sailed out in order to attack targets on the Lebanon coast, including Hizbullah outposts that house rocket launchers.

Cpl. Nitzan Yogev holds the two way radio and directs the crew to the target. A few seconds later, she receives the report of a direct hit on all targets, a foil of an attempted rocket launch towards Nahariya. The missile-boats, their mission completed, return safely to Israeli shores.

"After every success, there's a feeling of fulfillment. We feel that we helped reduce the damage that could have resulted from that launching," Yogev explains. "We have become a close-knit group over the past three weeks, fighting here, eating here, sleeping here, and feeling that the weight of the mission is on our shoulders."

Focused on helping ships at sea (Photo: Hagai Aharon)

Head of the navy's command and control system in the north, Lt. Cdr. Amnon Kinreich, expressed pride in his unit's operations. "When the fighting started, they wanted to replace the girls who man the station with male combat soldiers and I explained to them that the most effective force for the job was already in place. I supervise the girls in their work in real time Much of the time, the outpost is under heavy fire."

"To see them sitting in the fortified structure, focused on identifying, and helping the ships' crews, makes me truly proud. Their main job in the battle is ongoing communication with air, land and sea forces, cooperation that is important cooperation both to foil attacks and to assist our forces serving in mortal danger in order to protect residents of the north," he continued.

The Ynet crew watched for two hours, up close, as the girls and their officers, who have already participated in several successful operations in enemy territory, continued their intensive work.

Despite the successes, the fighting continues - shift leaders and deputy shit leaders work 12 hours straight before earning a break and controllers work six hours shifts, staring at the shoreline and border fence, instructing naval teams in various operations and guiding them back to Israeli shores with achievements and, more importantly, with no casualties.

"It's like we're in a closed ship, only without the rocking of the waves," Kinreich concludes. "We're closed off in this room and working around the clock in a closed area  determined to win this battle."

While the Muslims wrap their women in black bedsheets and don't let them out of the house, this is what the women of hegemonic,colonialist Israel are doing with their time. Remind me -- which side is the "progressive" left supporting in this battle, and why?

Nice pics when you click on the link. I'm way too old and way too married, but still I can observe that the state of Israel is way out front of its enemies in more ways than one. I'm sure these young ladies inspire the men to act like men. And they're doing everyone a great service with their courage.

4
posted on 08/06/2006 12:50:12 PM PDT
by elhombrelibre
(Civilization and democracy are under attack in Israel. Stand by her.)

That may define the difference; unlike men, women dont like to blow things up but pi$$ us off enough or threaten our families and we will not hesitate to blow up the bad guys and we dont have to be Amazons to do it :)

11
posted on 08/06/2006 1:05:15 PM PDT
by Caramelgal
(There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do.)

In 1988, I was, at the last moment, pulled off a classified (at the time) USAF deployment to Israel. When my guys got back, they were in total disbelief at the number of "Babes" in the IDF! They went on and on about it for weeks. Said they couldn't wait to go back. Biggest regret of my career, missing that deployment.

I'm sure for any young Israeli lad in the IDF he takes no umbrage if one of these female soldiers offers to help him learn more about the tactic of cover and concealment, even if he must do it after hours and on his own time.

16
posted on 08/06/2006 1:16:45 PM PDT
by elhombrelibre
(Civilization and democracy are under attack in Israel. Stand by her.)

Yep. Shrouding a woman head to toe making her feel ashamed of what she is, treating her like a piece of livestock (or human explosive device), forcing her to walk ten steps behind, keeping her unenlightened and uneducated or saying to woman; I value you, you are my partner and though you may not be as physically as strong and muscular as I am, heres what you can do to help (not me but) us .

Who would you rather have at your side when the chips are down?

18
posted on 08/06/2006 1:25:41 PM PDT
by Caramelgal
(There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do.)

This is important information about the Israelis. I'm so very tired of listening to politicians here in the U.S.A. about what they would do to end this battle - yada, yada, yada. Here are young Israeli women fighting for their country and their very lives. God Bless the Israeli military (men and women) and God Bless our American military (men and women). And God damn terrorists and the left-wing media.

"By the way, I thought Israel banned women from combat units, due to high losses in previous wars. Is that not true?" No longer. Check this out at today's Ynet (article + video): Women reservists who scare Hizbullah

Hmmm, thanks for the correction, I dn't think women in combat units is a good idea, but maybe I am just old fashioned. Certainly Israel is not the USA, and must decide what is best for Isreal and it's young women. I hate to see young women directly engaged in combat.

My brother visited Israel in January. He has since tried to get on with the IDF as a Gentile Dog. Failing that, I believe he is trying to get back to Haifa or Tel Aviv. Girls with guns will do it every time.

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